Electric switch having fixed contacts engageable by rotatable and linearly movable bridging members



March 3, 1970 w. T. STOI 3,499,125

ELECTRIC SWITCH HAVING F D CONTACTS ENGAGEABLE BY ROTATABLE AND LINEARLYVABLE BRIDGING MEMBERS Filed Jan. 5. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W4LT f I? 7' 8 7'0/ w. T. STOI 3,499,125 ELECTRIC SWITCH HAVING FIXEDCONTACTS ENGAGEABLE BY March 3, 1970 ROTATABLE AND LINEARLY MOVABLEBRIDGING MEMBERS Filed Jan. 5. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 1464A TEA7. ST 0/ United States Patent 3 499,125 ELECTRIC SWITCH IIAVING FIXEDCONTACTS ENGAGEABLE BY ROTATABLE AND LINEARLY MOVABLE BRIDGING MEMBERSWalter T. Stoi, Warren, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to EssexInternational, Inc., a corporation of IVIichigan Filed Jan. 3, 1967,Ser. No. 606,820 Int. Cl. H01h 9/02 US. Cl. 2004 15 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE An electrical switch having a support onwhich is mounteda rotatable bridging conductor and an axially movable bridgingconductor, the bridging conductors being selectively engageable withcommon fixed contacts.

This invention relates to electrical switches and more particularly toan electrical switch construction having an elongated support on whichis arranged a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced,fixed contact members, selected ones of which may be bridged by arotatable conductor carried by the support in abutting relation withcorresponding ends of the fixed contacts, the opposite ends of the fixedcontacts being adapted to be bridged by a linearly reciprocableconductor carried by the support for movements axially thereof.

An object of this invention is to provide a combined rotary andreciprocating switch utilizing contacts that are common both to therotary and to the reciprocating contacts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch construction ofthe character referred to and which lends itself to installation on asupport member which performs other functions besides that of supportingthe switch. For example, a switch constructed according to the inventionmay be supported by the operating handle of a vehicle directionsignaling device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch construction ofthe kind described and wherein the engageable and disengageable contactshave wiping engagement so as to assure the excellent electricalcharacteristics over a long period of time.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out indetail or will become apparent from the following description when it isconsidered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a switch and supportstructure according to the invention and illustrating the parts in theirnormal positions;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but illustrating the rotarybridging member in an adjusted position;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the switch and supporting structure; and

FIGURE 7 is a schematic circuit diagram.

Patented Mar. 3, 1970 Apparatus constructed in accordance with theinvention is illustrated as being supported by a vehicle directionsignal operating lever 1 having a metal shaft 2 provided with alongitudinally extending bore 3. Adjacent its outer end, the shaft 2 isprovided with a flat, external surface 4. Adjacent the opposite end ofthe shaft 2, Le, the end which is adapted to be secured to the directionsignal device, the shaft is enlarged to provide a shoulder 5.

A rotatable operating member or thimble 6 is loosely mounted on theshaft 2 and comprises a generally frustoconical body 7 formed ofsuitable insulating material and having a longitudinally extending bore8 in which the shaft 2 is accommodated. The smaller end of the body 7seats against the shoulder 5, and the opposite end of the body isprovided with an enlarged chamber 9. An annular, nonconductive anchorring 10 is accommodated in the chamber 9 and has a flat-sided bore 11which is fitted on the correspondingly shaped portion 4 of the shaft 2so as to be nonrotatably fixed to the shaft. The ring 10 has an axialopening 12 therein in which is accommodated an upturned end 13 of atorsion spring 14, the opposite end 15 of which is received in a bore 16formed in the body 7. The arrangement is such that the spring 14 reactsbetween the anchor ring 10 and the body 7 so as constantly to urge thelatter to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 4, butthe body 7 is manually rotatable in a counterclockwise direction. A rib17 forming an integral part of the body 7 projects into the chamber 9and is accommodated in a notch 18 formed in the anchor ring 10, theopposite ends of the notch cooperating with the opposite ends of the rib17 to limit rotation of the body 7 to substantially 45.

Also accommodated in the chamber 9 and rotatably mounted on the shaft 2is a nonconductive carrier ring 19 having a pair of radially extendingears 20 which are accommodated in axially extending slots 21 formed inthe body 7 adjacent the larger end thereof. The cars 20 and the slots 21form a driving connection between the body 7 and the carrier 19 so as toimpart rotation to the latter in response ot rotation of the body.Secured to the lefthand or outer surface of the carrier 19 is anarcuate, fiat, conductive bridging member 22 for a purpose presently tobe explained. The carrier 19 is spaced from and constantly urged awayfrom the anchor ring 10 by a compression spring 23 which is accommodatedin the chamber 9 and surrounds the shaft 2.

Fixed to the free or outer end of the shaft 2 is a hollow,nonconductive, frustoconical handle 24 having an annular mounting sleeve25 at its smaller end which has an interference fit with the shaft 2.The sleeve 25, together with the outer wall of the handle 24, forms anannular chamber 26 having an end wall 27 which is apertured in twoplaces, one of which is shown at 29 in FIGURE 1.

The handle 24 has an enlarged chamber 30 adjacent its larger end andwhich communicates with the chamber 26 via a tapered neck 31.Accommodated in the chamber 30 and bearing against the neck 31 is agenerally cylindrical mounting block or carrier 32 formed of insulatingmaterial and having three axially extending passages 33, 34 and 35(FIGURE 5) extending therethrough. Fixed in the passage 33 is anelongated, conductive blade or contact 36, and an identical contact 37is secured in the passage 34. A blade contact 38 is secured in thepassage 35 and is similar to the contacts 36 and 37 except that it maybe shorter in length. To the contact 36 is anchored one end of aconductive wire 39, and similar wires 40 and 41 are anchored to thecontacts 37 and 38, respec- 3 tively. The wires extend through the bore3 of the shaft 2 for connection to apparatus to be operated. Thecontacts 36-38 are spaced uniformly from one another circumferentiallyabout the axis of the shaft 2, and each of the contacts is crimped as at42- so as to preclude longitudinal displacement relative to the carrier32.

As is best indicated in FIGURES l, 2 and 3, the con tact blades 36 and37 are of such length as to extend through the apertures 29 and projectbeyond the smaller end of the handle 24. The contacts 36 and 37 are ofsuch length that they abut the carrier 19 so as to be capable of beingbridged by the bridging member 22. The blades 36 and 37 and theapertures 29 are so arranged as to be in alignment with one another, andmisalignment is precluded by an inwardly projecting rib 42a on thehandle 24 which is accommodated in a slot 43 formed in the carrier 32.

Linearly movable operating means 44 is carried by the handle 24 andcomprises a nonconductive plunger 45 having a hollow stem 46 aroundwhich is secured an electrically conductive sleeve or bridging member 47A guide body 48 is slidably accommodated in a recess 49 formed in thecarrier 32 and has an axially extending projection 50 which is pressfitted into the hollow stem 46. Between its ends the plunger 45 isprovided with a flange 51 against which one end of a compression spring52 seats, the opposite end of the spring bearing against the carrier 32so as to maintain the latter snugly against the neck 31 and to bias theplunger 45 away from the carrier 32 to a projected position. The extentof projection of the plunger 45 is limited by a snap ring 53 that isaccommodated -in a groove 54 formed in the handle 24 and which isprovided with a central opening 55 through which the plunger 45 mayextend.

The construction and arrangement of the operating member 44 are suchthat manual displacement of the plunger 45 to the right from theposition shown in FIG- URE 1 will cause the conductive sleeve 47 to nestwith and bridge each of the contacts 36, 37 and 38. Upon release of theplunger 45, the latter, together with the conductive sleeve 47, will berestored to its original position.

The arrangement of the several conductive parts of the switch may varyaccording to the kinds of apparatus to be operated. In the disclosedembodiment, however, the conductive parts are so arranged that in theirnormal or inactive positions the contact 36 constantly engages thebridging member 22, the contact 37 is free of the bridging member, andthe contacts 36, 37 and 38 are free of the bridging member 47. In thisarrangement, counterclockwise rotation of the body 7 from the positionshown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3 will enable thebridging member 22 to engage both of the contacts 36 and 37.

In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 7, the contact 37 is connected by thewire 40 to a battery B via a main switch SM, the contact 36 is connectedby the wire 39 to the coil of a holding relay R-1, and the contact 38 isconnected by the wire 41 to the coil of a holding relay R-2. The relaysR-1 and R-2 are adapted to enable solenoids or other apparatus S1 andS2, respectively, to be connected to and disconnected from the batteryB. The circuit of the solenoid S-l also includes a switch SC.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 7, closing of the mainswitch SM will condition the apparatus for operation, but no action willtake place until one of the bridging members 22 or 44 is operated. Ifthe bridging member 22 is rotated to bridge the contacts 36 and 37, therelay R-1 will be energized and locked so as to effect energization ofthe solenoid S-1, assuming the switch SC is closed. The relay R-l willremain energized, thereby enabling the member 22 to be restored to itsoriginal position without breaking the circuit to the solenoid S1. Thecircuit to the solenoid may be broken, however, by opening of either ofthe switches SM or SC.

If the bridging member 44 is moved to a position in which it bridges allthree contacts 36, 37 and 38, both of the relays R-1 and R-2 will beenergized and locked so as to effect energization of both solenoids S-1and S-2. The locking of the relays will enable the solenoid S-2 toremain energized as long as the switch SM is closed, and the relay S-1to be energized as long as both of the switches SM and SC are closed.

Switches of the kind herein disclosed have many applications, one ofwhich is to control speed regulating devices for vehicles. In such use,the switch SC may be operated by the brake pedal of the vehicle.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of presently preferred formsof the invention but is intended to be illustrative rather thandefinitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A switch construction comprising support means; a plurality ofconductive elements carried by said support means; a first bridgingmember carried by said support means for movements into and out ofdirect bridging engagement sequentially with selected ones of saidelements; and second movable bridging member movable into and out ofdirect bridging engagement with said elements including all of thoseengageable by said first bridging member, one of said bridging membersbeing rotatable and the other of said bridging members beingreciprocable.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said selected ones ofsaid elements engageable by said first bridging member constitute atleast two but less than all of said elements.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said first bridgingmember constantly is in engagement with one of said elements.

4. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said first movablebridging member is rotatable.

5. The construction set forth in claim 4 including means acting on saidrotatable bridging member and urging the latter in one direction ofrotation.

6. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said second bridgingmember is linearly movable.

7. The construction set forth in claim 6 including means acting on saidlinearly movable bridging member and urging the latter in one directionof movement.

8. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said conductiveelements are three in number.

9. The construction set forth in claim 8 wherein said first bridgingmember is capable of bridging two only of said conductive elements.

10. A switch construction comprising elongated support means; aplurality of elongated, conductive elements oircumferentially spacedabout the axis of said support means; a rotatable bridging membermounted on said support means for rotation relative thereto into and outof direct bridging engagement sequentially with selected ones of saidelements; and a linearly movable bridging member carried by said supportmeans for movements axially of the latter into and out of directbridging engagement with said elements including all of those engageableby said rotatable bridging member.

11. The construction set forth in claim 10 wherein said rotatablebridging member is movable axially of said support means for abuttingengagement with said elements.

12. The construction set forth in claim 11 including spring means actingon said rotatable bridging member and urging the latter in one directionof rotation.

13. The construction set forth in claim 11 including spring means actingon said rotatable bridging member and urging the latter in a directionaxially of said support means and toward abutting engagement with saidelements.

14. The construction set forth in claim 10 wherein said linearly movablebridging member is cylindrical and nestable with said elements.

15. The construction set forth in claim 10 including 2,263,754 11/1941Batcheller 200-4 spring means acting on said linearly movable bridging3,120,583 2/1964 Cornell 2005 member and urging the latter in onedirection of move- 3,225,149 12/1965 Shlesinger 20016 ment axially ofsaid support means. 3,065,440 11/1962 Bonwitt 33918 References Cited 5ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS M. GINSBURG,Assistant Examiner 1,399,129 12/1921 Laub 2004 XR 1,624,828 4/1927Caminita 200-6154 XR 1,809,100 5/1931 Baker et a1. 200-4 10 2006154

